To check out the complete lineup with a link to each artist, click here.

Sixthman‘s tagline, “LIVE LOUD,” speaks to the audience and appears thoroughly appreciated.

Watch this video. It shows off the vibe and the wealth of talent.

James Sallis

R.I.P.

James Sallis (born December 21, 1944 in Helena, Arkansas, United States) is an American crime writer, poet, critic, musicologist and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the detective character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.

Acclaimed author James Sallis died on Jan. 27, 2026, at the age of 81, after a long battle with illness. Sallis was a native of Helena, Arkansas.

Sallis may have been known for his novels, but he was more than just an author. He was also a creative writing teacher, musician, screenwriter, periodical editor, book reviewer, and translator.

As posted by Poison Pen Bookshop – Scottsdale, AZ :

“We are very sorry to have to share that author James Sallis passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, peacefully, with his wife Karyn by his side, after a long illness. No funeral is planned. If you feel moved to donate in his memory, the family suggests ACLU or the Humane Society as worthy charities that Jim valued.”

Film – Drive starring Ryan Gosling

Ronnie Baker Brooks

Ronnie Baker Brooks is a prominent American Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter who has carved out a unique identity while honoring his “blues royalty” lineage as the eldest musical son of the late legendary Lonnie Brooks. Born in Chicago in 1967, he has emerged as one of the most electrifying and innovative bluesmen, blending traditional Chicago blues with elements of soul, electric blues, rock, and funk.

Brooks began his musical journey at an early age, first performing on stage with his father at just nine years old. He initially joined his father’s band as a roadie, working his way up through hard work and determination before becoming the full-time second guitarist. He learned not only from his father but also from blues greats such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, and Koko Taylor. Koko Taylor notably told him, “You learn from your daddy everything you can. And one day, it’ll be up to you to carry the blues forward,” a mandate he took to heart.

Embarking on a solo career in 1998 with his debut album Golddigger, Brooks established his own sound and label, Watchdog Records, which also released Take Me Witcha (2001) and the critically acclaimed The Torch (2006). His music is often described as witty, soulful, and ferociously energetic, with “astonishing guitar work” and a powerful stage presence. He views his role as a bridge between the traditional blues of his mentors and the younger generation, incorporating modern musical influences like hip-hop to ensure the genre’s continued evolution.

Ronnie’s 2017 album, Times Have Changed, produced by Steve Jordan, featured collaborations with an array of talent, including Bobby “Blue” Bland in one of his final recorded works.

Blues in My DNA, released in October 2024 on Alligator Records, marks his debut on the prestigious label that was home to his father. The album has been a major success, earning Brooks three 2025 Blues Music Awards: “Song of the Year” for the title track, “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year,” and “Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year”. This recognition solidifies his place in the upper echelons of the blues world, an honor he now embraces with pride rather than obligation.

Rodney Crowell

Born in 1950 in Houston, Texas, Rodney Crowell has built a career as one of the most significant figures in the evolution of Americana music. Raised in a musical household where his father led a honky-tonk band, Crowell began playing drums in that group at age 11. His journey took him to Nashville in 1972, where he befriended a circle of legendary songwriters, including Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. This early period was formative, as Crowell absorbed the craft of songwriting with a literary and poetic lens that would define his life’s work. His talent was quickly recognized by Emmylou Harris, who recorded his song “Bluebird Wine” and invited him to join her famous Hot Band as a guitarist and harmony singer in 1975.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Crowell established himself as a premier songwriter for other artists. His compositions reached the top of the charts via icons like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Bob Seger, whose recording of Crowell’s “Shame on the Moon” became a massive pop and country success. Crowell also served as a producer, notably for his then-wife Rosanne Cash, helping to shape the sound of neo-traditionalist country music. However, it was his 1988 solo album, Diamonds & Dirt, that made him a superstar in his own right. The album achieved the unprecedented feat of producing five consecutive #1 country singles, including “After All This Time,” which won him his first Grammy for Best Country Song.

As the 1990s progressed, Crowell consciously moved away from the mainstream country machine to pursue more personal and autobiographical projects. This shift began in earnest with the 2001 release of The Houston Kid, a semi-autobiographical collection that explored his childhood and roots with stark honesty. This record, along with follow-ups like Fate’s Right Hand and The Outsider, is regarded by critics and Crowell himself as some of his most vital work. His literary prowess eventually extended to the page with his acclaimed memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, published in 2011.

Crowell’s later career has been marked by high-profile collaborations and continued innovation. He reunited with Emmylou Harris for the 2013 album Old Yellow Moon, which earned another Grammy for Best Americana Album. He has remained remarkably prolific well into his 70s, releasing projects like the Jeff Tweedy-produced The Chicago Sessions (2023) and his 20th studio album, Airline Highway (2025), which features contributions from younger artists like Ashley McBryde and Lukas Nelson. Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipient of the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Crowell is celebrated as a “songwriter’s songwriter” whose influence spans over five decades of American roots music.

Lou Berney

Lou Berney is the author of November Road (a Washington Post Best Book of 2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Macavity, and ALA awards), Whiplash River, and Gutshot Straight, all from William Morrow. He’s also written a collection of stories, The Road to Bobby Joe, and his short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. He teaches in the MFA program at Oklahoma City University.

His book list continues to grow, and all are great reads.

Crooks (Sept. 9, 2025)
Double Barrel Bluff (Shake Bouchon #3) (2024)
Dark Ride (2023)
November Road (2018)
The Long and Faraway Gone (2015)
Whiplash River (Shake Bouchon #2) (2012)
Gutshot Straight (Shake Bouchon #1) (2010)

Della Mae

Della Mae is a GRAMMY-nominated, all-female string band that has spent the last 15 years redefining the boundaries of bluegrass and Americana. Founded in Boston in 2009 by fiddle champion Kimber Ludiker, the group has evolved from a regional sensation into a global force, touring over 30 countries as cultural ambassadors.

The band’s sound is a “melting pot” of their diverse backgrounds, blending high-energy bluegrass with indie-folk and modern country. Their performances are celebrated for their “sensory yet assertive” style, balancing traditional roots with contemporary songwriting.

Della Mae’s discography is marked by steady growth and critical acclaim. Their 2013 album, This World Oft Can Be, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and helped them win the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award. Subsequent releases like Headlight (2020) and Family Reunion (2021) continued to push their lyrical and sonic boundaries.

In early 2025, the band reached a new creative peak with their album Magic Accident, released on January 23 via Compass Records. Produced by banjo legend Alison Brown, the album is described as their most collaborative work to date, featuring original songs from every member. Standout tracks include the title song, penned by Woodsmith, and “Out Run ‘Em,” written by Smith.

Beyond the stage, Della Mae is a “movement” focused on female empowerment and social advocacy. They use their platform to mentor young musicians and support initiatives for gender equality and labor rights. Through their work with the U.S. State Department’s “American Voices” program, they have brought bluegrass to audiences from urban schools in Kazakhstan to rural festivals in Brazil, proving that their music transcends cultural and geographic borders.

The Boneshakers

The Boneshakers w/Jenny Langer

The iconic band lead by world-renowned guitarist Randy Jacobs of Was (Not Was). The Boneshakers and members have toured and recorded with Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Seal, Keb Mo, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Mindi Abair, Bootsy Collins, Tears 4 Fears, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Iggy Pop…just to name a few. STORIED CAREER Flashback to 1980 — During his maiden session for Don and David Was, Randy Jacobs meets Sweetpea Atkinson on a cold night in the Motor City at Sound Suite Studio (the recording home of the fledgling band Was (Not Was). The connection was immediate and a bond was forged between the two artists. Their combined talents would help Was (Not Was) become a successful act during the 80’s and into the early 90s culminating with the worldwide hit “Walk The Dinosaur ” co-written by Jacobs. After their European tour with Dire Straits in 1992, the Was Band went on hiatus and Randy started playing and recording with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Seal, Paula Abdul, Kris Kristofferson, Ofra Haza, Tears For Fears, Warren Hill and others. Sweetpea was in Los Angeles adding background vocals to artists like Neil Diamond, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, and Bob Segar. When Atkinson heard that Jacobs was putting together a new project, he jumped at the chance to be a part of it. It was Bonnie Raitt who inadvertently gave them their name “Boneshakers” while they were working on her “Longing In Our Hearts” CD. In 1996, the two were signed to Pointblank/Virgin Records and produced two CDs for the label: “Book Of Spells” (1997) which included Randy’s rockin’ swing arrangement of James Brown’s “Cold Sweat” and the powerful “Shake The Planet” (1998). Over the years, The Boneshakers released another four successful albums. Additionally, they joined forces with sax queen Mindi Abair and released Live in Seattle on Concord Records. Two more albums were credited to Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers: The EastWest Sessions (2017) and All I Got for Christmas Is the Blues (2018).

In 2020, the band suffered an unimaginable loss with news of the passing of Sweetpea. THE LEGACY CONTINUES Now in 2022, as The Boneshakers celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first release, a new energy and excitement has emerged. Producer John Wooler, who originally signed The Boneshakers in 1997, connected Randy and the incredible Jenny Langer– a powerhouse singer who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (NYC and VA) at the age of 28 and won the 2020 Int’l Blues Challenge for Best SelfProduced Album. What started as a few tracks for her project quickly morphed in a new album with The Boneshakers featuring no-holds-barred funk, blues, and rock that marries the sounds and spirits of Detroit Rock City, Memphis, and Mussel Shoals. Produced by Wooler, it is back to the original vision of The Boneshakers’ fiery sound, with the vocal dynamo Jenny Langer behind the mic and original musicians from “The Book Of Spells” Sergio Gonzales (Drums), Nathan Brown (Bass), Jon Gilutin (Keys), The Texacali Horns (Joe Sublett, Mark Pender, and Randy’s former band mate from Was (Not Was) Sir Harry Bowens on vocals.

BAND MEMBERS:
Randy Jacobs (Guitar/Vocals)
Holly Montgomery (Bass/Vocals)
Arthur Thompson (Drums/vocals)
Jenny Langer (Vocals)

The Wood Brothers

Kathleen Edwards

S. A. Cosby

Joseph Craig English

Wisconsin Avenue

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Christone Kingfish Ingram

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A week of music immersion on board a mid-sized cruise ship.

That is a description of Cayamo, or of other amazing music cruises that cover many genres.

Spending a week with Dawes, Jason Isbell, Kathleen Edwards, Paul Thorn, Rickie Lee Jones, Sierra Hull, Della Mae, and Rodney Crowell featured Roaming the Arts’ favorites. And also allowed us to discover new artists, which is our mission.

Among the artists we came to know, check out these: Watchhouse, Milk Carton Kids, Brandy Clark, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Crys Matthews, Judy Blank. Click below for others.